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Developing astronomical research in North Dakota Dr. Paul S. Hardersen University of North Dakota Department of Space Studies Associate professor Director, UND Observatory
Developing astronomical research in North Dakota
Dr. Paul S. Hardersen University of North Dakota Department of Space Studies
Associate professor Director, UND Observatory
UND Space Studies: who are we?
• 1987 -- Founded by Buzz Aldrin and Dr. David Webb. • Interdisciplinary M.S. program: science, engineering, life
sciences, policy, history, management, law, commercial space. A rare type of academic program.
• 1996: Distance learning option begins. Enrollment skyrockets!
• 2001: Transition to a traditional academic department (teaching, research, service).
• 2004: M.S. thesis option available for campus and distance students.
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UND Space Studies: who are we?
• 2012: Ph.D. in Aerospace Science begins – includes Space Studies.
• Today: 1. Faculty of 8; student enrollment of ~25 campus students and
~125 distance students. 2. Primary research: space suits, asteroid near-IR reflectance
spectroscopy, solar physics (sunspots, filaments), double stars (coming soon!).
3. Facilities: Human Spaceflight Laboratory, Life Sciences Laboratory, UND Observatory.
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Astronomy in North Dakota
• Pre-1991: Very little astronomical research, education, or infrastructure in North Dakota.
• 1992-2004: Planetary Science Observatory (PSO). Small telescopes primarily used for public outreach.
• 2004: Proposal for 1-meter-class observatory. No funding.
• 2005: Renovations begin for Internet Observatory #1. • 2007: Internet Observatory #2 built. • 2008: Internet Observatory #3 built. • 2010: New operations trailer installed. Civilization! • 2012: Commence long-term solar and photometry programs.
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UND Observatory site
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• Located ~10 miles west of Grand Forks.
• Low, manageable light pollution.
• On ~1000 acres of designated prairie land that will not be developed.
• Space Studies manages assets within fenced area.
• Funded by department, college, ND EPSCoR, and private donations.
North
East
UND Observatory site
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• Moonless nights – the Milky Way is visible. Light pollution east from Grand Forks, northwest from air force base, is minor.
UND Observatory telescopes
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• Goal – Build Internet Observatory #4 with 24-inch telescope on-site AND/OR gain access to a 1-meter ++ observatory out-of-state.
UND Observatory/astronomy research
1. Intrinsic sunspot rotation and associations with solar flares – using ISOON data. NSF proposal pending.
2. Identifying new Vestoids in the main asteroid belt derived from WISE data. Submit to NASA, June 2013.
3. Asteroid photometry program to derive rotation rates. Broadband VR photometry.
4. Long-term solar Hα chromospheric observations (full disk/high resolution) to monitor filament formation and solar flares.
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UND Observatory in 2013
• Research and education projects for 2013 will include:
1. Broadband VR photometry for ~6 asteroids to determine rotation rates. Differential and absolute photometry.
2. Rebuild Internet Observatory #2 for day and night operations. Solar Hα observations on all clear days.
3. Double star astrometry (Russ Genet/Jo Johnson). 4. Support student thesis/non-thesis research projects. 5. Potential project: combined photometry/spectroscopic study
of T Tauri stars. 6. Teaching support for SpSt 425: Observational Astronomy.
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UND Observatory/astronomy research
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?
Collaborations will be essential to our success!
Seeking partnerships with other observatories.
UND Aerospace Sciences Ph.D.
• Mission: To provide interdisciplinary teaching and research at the highest academic levels. To provide highly educated scholars and leaders with the skills necessary to mix technology and science with an understanding of the politics and economics of the aerospace fields.
• Requirements: 1. An M.S. degree from an accredited institution. GPA = 3.25+. 2. Statement of personal goals. 3. Professional resume’/CV. 4. GRE General Examination (no specific score required). 5. Industry experience preferred (but not required).
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UND Aerospace Sciences Ph.D.
• Degree requirements include:
1. Completion of 60 credits beyond M.S. degree. 2. 12-18 dissertation credits. 3. Pass qualifying examination to advance to candidacy. 4. Core courses: Avit 501, SpSt 501, Avit 521, and SpSt 590. 5. 6-12 credits of Scholarly Tools (i.e., research methods). 6. Residency requirement – on campus one week per year. 7. Remaining coursework – Space Studies or applicable UND
courses from other departments, ~20-32 credits.
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Molding a coherent astronomy Ph.D.
• The key: Choosing the best courses for the particular research project for each student.
• Graduate astronomy/planetary science courses currently available:
• SpSt 520 – Asteroids, Meteorites, and Comets. • SpSt 521 – The Planet Mars. • SpSt 527 – Extraterrestrial Resources. • SpSt 524 – Current Topics in Astrobiology. • SpSt 526: Astronomical and Spacecraft Instrumentation. • SpSt 528: Space Environment and the Sun.
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Molding a coherent astronomy Ph.D.
• The real key – using the SpSt 570 option, i.e., ‘new’ or ‘experimental’ courses. This allows students to receive instruction in topics appropriate to the research project.
• For example, for a double star/stellar physics Ph.D., courses could include:
1. Stellar structure and evolution. 2. Orbital dynamics for binary stars. 3. Stellar spectroscopy and photometry. 4. Astrometric theory and applications. 5. Others……
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Things to remember….
• Admissions: Ph.D. students only begin each fall semester.
• Admissions deadline: February 1, annually.
• Funding: The biggest challenge – GRA/stipends currently only available for students conducting asteroid research.
• Faculty are beginning to make a stronger effort at obtaining research grants.
• Distance students who do not require GRA/stipend funding have a better chance of admission.
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Departmental goals
1. Develop an in-house capability to design and build instruments for both ground-based observatories and spacecraft.
2. Design and operate a space mission design laboratory. 3. Partner with other universities/non-profits to operate large
observatories that may be closing, i.e., NSO/Sac Peak, NSO/Kitt Peak, UKIRT, etc.
4. Increase astronomy research grant funding in Space Studies.
5. Increase the post-doc population in Space Studies. 6. Find money. Lots of money…….
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Questions?
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